Is Seychelles to remain “An Oasis of Peace” in a world in turmoil?

Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R Mancham has welcomed the initiative taken by Mexico, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa for their resolution at the United Nations General

Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R Mancham has welcomed the initiative taken by Mexico, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa for their resolution at the United Nations General Assembly to start negotiation towards a new treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons.


Sir James who early this year was awarded the Africa Peace Award 2016 has been a strong supporter of the Geneva-based International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and of David Krieger’s California-based Nuclear Age Peace Foundation made these remarks in a letter this morning to the Seychelles NATION with reference to the shocking news that President James A. Michel has decided to resign from the office as the President of the Republic of Seychelles abruptly.

“Now more than never before the spirit of reconciliation must prevail among all those who have the national interest at heart and wish the Seychelles to remain “an oasis of peace in a world in turmoil,” Sir James stated.

Herewith the full text of the letter addressed to the Seychelles media this morning –

“Dear Editor

After waking up on Wednesday morning (28th September) to the shocking news that President James A. Michel has resigned from office so abruptly, leaving all of us wondering what is next – I am reminded that come what may, we must take life as usual as we look forward to a more settled and better future. We must, above all, make sure that this does not constitute a case of “Après moi, le déluge.”

The national interest now calls for cool headedness and we must certainly look before we leap. Now more than ever before the spirit of reconciliation must prevail among all those who have the national interest at heart and who wish the Seychelles to remain an ‘oasis of peace’ in a world in turmoil.

Today (Thursday 29th September), a group of States put forward a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly to start negotiations towards a new treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons.



What does that mean? It means our hard work is starting to pay off.
The States leading this initiative are Mexico, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa. While a majority of States, including Seychelles, have expressed support for developing a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, fierce opposition to this resolution is expected from the nuclear-armed States. States will vote on the resolution during the period 24th October to 2nd November, 2016.

The resolution proposes two negotiating conferences over 20 days at the United Nations in New York to conclude a new international treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons.

This is a historic breakthrough in global efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

A ray of hope in an otherwise troubled world.

Yours truly

James R. Mancham.”

President Michel is handing over the presidency of the Republic of Seychelles to Vice-President Danny Faure on Sunday 16th October, 2016, following his Party’s defeat in the recent National Assembly election.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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